It was his second time being back on Earth after the events of the 456. He had come back because he had given up running from the pain, the anger and the disgust he felt within himself. He told himself that the feelings would eventually go, that they would be replaced by the good memories he had gained over the years, but standing in the centre of Cardiff had made the emotions raw again.

On his return to the planet, he had had the change to select where the ship dropped him off but, instead of choosing a different city, he chose Cardiff. The one place which had caused him so much pain and grief, but it was also the place where he held so many fond memories.

With a quick turn in his heels he found himself walking down a street lined with different kinds of restaurants. The smells filled his nostrils and he sighed with a small smile, he loved this city.

He became suddenly aware that many of the cities inhabitants were looking at him strangely. Maybe it was due to the way he was dressed or maybe the Welsh people couldn't help but gaze at his good looks. Or they were frightened by the dead expression showing through his facial features.

Then he stopped, causing an elderly woman to make an invasive manoeuvre before she collided with his back. She cursed at him, her broad accent filling his ears but his mind was somewhere else.

His gaze was fixed on a point through the large pain of class that made up the front of one of the restaurants. He was looking at a table laid out for two. His mouth fell open slightly as sadness distorted his dead expression. Then suddenly memories and images flashed through his brain …

-007-

"You're terrible, you do know that, right?" The Welshman laughed as he took a sip of the red coloured liquid in his glass.

"Yeah, but that was the only way I was going to get what I wanted,"

"And did you get it?" He laughed.

"No." He replied joining in with the laughter. "In the end I had to use more of an aggressive approach to the situation." He paused. "No, but my methods normal work."

"Maybe you need to change the record, Jack," He took another sip of wine. "Or at least dust it off."

"I'll have you know, Ianto Jones, my record does not need dusting off," A grin appeared on his face. "Besides, my old tunes seem to work on you." He winked and laughed, enjoying the moment.

Ianto didn't have time to answer as their food was placed in front of them. The Welshman picked up his knife and folk and began to tuck into his food. He was about to place a folk full into his mouth when Jack said something Ianto didn't expect him to say in a million years.

"You are amazing, you know that right?"

Ianto nearly dropped his folk. He looked up at the man opposite him and gave him a quizzical eyebrow.

Realising what he had just voiced aloud, Jack suddenly became flushed and stumbled over his words. "You are … You're … You …" He was surprised when he felt Ianto's hand on top of his, he was even more surprised when he glanced up to find himself on the receiving end of a reassuring smile. He sighed and felt himself relax but, at the same time, he felt confused. "How do you do that?" He asked.

"Do what?"

"Make all my worries evaporate."

Ianto shrugged in reply. "I'm just that good," He smirked at his own big headedness.

"Yeah, no but seriously, not many people have the ability to do that to me." There was a pause. "You're not an alien are you?" They both laughed.

-007-

Jack was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts as he heard a familiar voice above the crowd.

"Jack?"

It drew closer.

"Jack?"

He turned and looked down to see a brown haired women looking up at him with wide happy eyes. "Jack!" She threw her arms around him. "I've missed you." She whispered but pulled back when she realised he didn't return her hug. She was smiling like an idiot, so pleased to see her Captain back on Earth, but that smile soon faded at the sight of Jack's dead eyes. The Welshwomen used to gaze into those bright blue eyes as the man spoke to her. Even when he was angry they always seemed to sparkle.

An uncomfortable silence descended on the pair as they stood on the street. "Hello Gwen," Jack said, his American accent as quiet as game of Chinese Whispers.

The women turned to face him and opened her mouth to speak. Did she dare ask the question? Yes. "How are you Jack?" She winced as the words left her mouth.

Suddenly Jack's gaze was on her and Gwen immediately felt a shiver run up and down her spine. It was wrong, she was used to seeing happiness, love and life with in his features but they had been replaced with look of self pity. "I'm alive," He shrugged. "Is that good enough for you?"

Memories of their conversation on the hill raced into her head. When she had asked the same question back then he had replied 'Surviving'. So was 'I'm alive' better or worse. By the looks of things, it was worse. "Jack," She spoke slowly, finding the right words to say. "Surely you've moved on a little from that year?"

"A year feels like twenty years for me, Gwen," There was hardly any sigh of his old tuneful voice as he spoke. "Do you really think it is that easy for me to 'get over' something like that?"

She shook her head as she watched Jack turn his focus back to the window. Gwen tried to source out the spot he was looking at, but it was no use. "So what bought you back?"

A minute passed before Jack sighed. "I couldn't keep running," Another sighed. "I've done it so many times, tried to run away and start a new life, but somehow I couldn't this time." He voice hitched towards the end of his sentence.

"Couldn't you go back and-"

"No, it doesn't work like the movies say it does," He finally looked into Gwen's eyes. "Don't you think, if I had the chance, I would have gone back and fixed what happened that year?" He drew in a deep breath; it was obvious he was trying to contain himself. "I have a reel of film in my head," He tapped one of his temples with his index finger. "And it's playing the same old movie over and over again. I want it out."

"Then, try and move on," Gwen suggested and wished she hadn't.

"I've tried!" The tears had started to show at the corners of his eyes. Gwen knew how hard it was to loose a person as she nearly lost Rhys, but she couldn't imagine what Jack was going through, having lost so many people himself. Gwen found it hard enough pulling back the red covers that one of her team mates was laying there motionless, never to wake again. But Jack was the one who had witnessed Ianto's final moments and that was the memory which was playing in his head.

-007-

Whilst eating their main meals, Jack and Ianto continued to laugh and enjoy themselves. At one point they were having a serious conversation with the surrounding tables about some political topic. Jack even managed to make an elderly lady blush by telling her she was looking amazing for her age. Ianto just rolled his eyes and continued to eat his food.

Soon the customers they had been talking to said their goodbyes and were soon replaced with fresh faces. Jack was about to greet their fellow dinners when Ianto learnt over and stole a bite from his plate.

The Captain looked horrified. "You owe me a kiss for that," He grinned and without any warning the Welshman had managed to stand up from his seat, move round the table and place a tender kiss on Jack's lips before turning on his heels and heading to the bathroom.

On his return from the lavatory Ianto noticed a familiar face sat towards the back of the premises. As he sat back down, he realised Jack was looking at him with a very suggestive grin. "I thought you weren't a fan of public displays of affection?"

Ianto didn't react in the way Jack had hoped. Instead the Welshman spoke quietly. "Yeah, well I think I might have attracted the attention of someone."

"What? Someone here, you mean?" Jack leant forward and placed his head on one fist. To anyone passing by it looked like they were having a normal conversation except it was the exact opposite.

"Yeah," Flicking his eyes quickly in the direction of the person of their topic he continued. "I think she is friend with my sister."

Jack sat back in his chair looking at his Welshman. He was about to speak when. Out of the corner of his eye, saw the women outside mobile in hand. He quickly placed a hand on Ianto's and squeezed it gently for reassurance. That was when they heard the women squeal Ianto's sisters name…

-007-